Gaming machine, control method for machine, and program for gaming machine

Abstract

A gaming machine provides an operation unit, a display unit, and a control unit. The operation unit is an operation of the player. The display unit is operably coupled to the operation unit and is configured to display first and second display areas. A number of free bonus may be awarded during a primary game. During the free spins, any occurrences of a predetermined symbol is copied to the second display area. After the free spins, a secondary bonus may be provided using the second display area and the copied symbols.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A gaming machine for providing a game, comprising:
 a cabinet; 
 a display device mounted to the cabinet; and 
 a control unit operably coupled to the display device, the control unit including a processor programmed to execute an algorithm to display an animated sequence of computer-generated images on the display device including the steps of: 
 displaying a plurality of first cells arranged in a first grid; 
 displaying a plurality of second cells arranged in a second grid, each second cell being associated with a corresponding first cell; 
 displaying a plurality of first reels in the first grid; and 
 initiating an instance of a bonus game by: 
 spinning and stopping the plurality of first reels in the first grid; 
 detecting an appearance of a predetermined symbol appearing in the first grid with the plurality of first reels stopped and animating a copy of the predetermined symbol to appear at a corresponding second cell in the second grid; 
 moving the copy of the predetermined symbol to an unoccupied second cell in the second grid upon determining the corresponding second cell is occupied by another copy of the predetermined symbol; and 
 initiating a secondary bonus game by: 
 displaying a plurality of second reels in other unoccupied second cells of the second grid, the plurality of second reels including independent reels displayed in each other unoccupied second cell of the second grid; and 
 spinning and stopping the second reels to display an instance of the secondary bonus game. 
 
     
     
       2. The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is programmed to execute the algorithm including the steps of:
 initiating the secondary bonus game after a predefined number of instances of the bonus game have been conducted. 
 
     
     
       3. The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is programmed to execute the algorithm including the steps of:
 providing a complementary award upon determining the corresponding second cell is occupied by another copy of the predetermined symbol. 
 
     
     
       4. The gaming machine of  claim 3 , wherein the processor is programmed to execute the algorithm including the steps of:
 providing the complementary award as one of a number of credits, a progressive jackpot, and an additional instance of the bonus game. 
 
     
     
       5. The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is programmed to execute the algorithm including the steps of:
 displaying the predetermined symbol as a wild symbol. 
 
     
     
       6. A method of operating a gaming machine including a display device mounted to a cabinet and a processor operably coupled to the display device, the method including the processor performing an algorithm to display an animated sequence of computer-generated images on the display device including the steps of:
 displaying a plurality of first cells arranged in a first grid; 
 displaying a plurality of second cells arranged in a second grid, each second cell being associated with a corresponding first cell; 
 displaying a plurality of first reels in the first grid; and 
 initiating an instance of a bonus game by: 
 spinning and stopping the plurality of first reels in the first grid; 
 detecting an appearance of a predetermined symbol appearing in the first grid with the plurality of first reels stopped and animating a copy of the predetermined symbol to appear at a corresponding second cell in the second grid; 
 moving the copy of the predetermined symbol to an unoccupied second cell in the second grid upon determining the corresponding second cell is occupied by another copy of the predetermined symbol; and 
 initiating a secondary bonus game by: 
 displaying a plurality of second reels in other unoccupied second cells of the second grid, the plurality of second reels including independent reels displayed in each other unoccupied second cell of the second grid; and 
 spinning and stopping the second reels to display an instance of the secondary bonus game. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , including the processor performing the algorithm including the steps of:
 initiating the secondary bonus game after a predefined number of instances of the bonus game have been conducted. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , including the processor performing the algorithm including the steps of:
 providing a complementary award upon determining the corresponding second cell is occupied by another copy of the predetermined symbol. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , including the processor performing the algorithm including the steps of:
 providing the complementary award as one of a number of credits, a progressive jackpot, and an additional instance of the bonus game. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 6 , including the processor performing the algorithm including the steps of:
 displaying the predetermined symbol as a wild symbol. 
 
     
     
       11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon to operate a gaming machine including a display device mounted to a cabinet and a processor operably coupled to the display device, when executed by the processor the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to perform an algorithm to display an animated sequence of computer-generated images on the display device including the steps of:
 displaying a plurality of first cells arranged in a first grid; 
 displaying a plurality of second cells arranged in a second grid, each second cell being associated with a corresponding first cell; 
 displaying a plurality of first reels in the first grid; and 
 initiating an instance of a bonus game by: 
 spinning and stopping the plurality of first reels in the first grid; 
 detecting an appearance of a predetermined symbol appearing in the first grid with the plurality of first reels stopped and animating a copy of the predetermined symbol to appear at a corresponding second cell in the second grid; 
 moving the copy of the predetermined symbol to an unoccupied second cell in the second grid upon determining the corresponding second cell is occupied by another copy of the predetermined symbol and; 
 initiating a secondary bonus game by: 
 displaying a plurality of second reels in other unoccupied second cells of the second grid, the plurality of second reels including independent reels displayed in each other unoccupied second cell of the second grid; and 
 spinning and stopping the second reels to display an instance of the secondary bonus game. 
 
     
     
       12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 11 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to perform the algorithm including the steps of:
 initiating the secondary bonus game after a predefined number of instances of the bonus game have been conducted. 
 
     
     
       13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 11 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to perform the algorithm including the steps of:
 providing a complementary award upon determining the corresponding second cell is occupied by another copy of the predetermined symbol. 
 
     
     
       14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 13 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to perform the algorithm including the steps of:
 providing the complementary award as one of a number of credits, a progressive jackpot, and an additional instance of the bonus game.